Mechanochemically synthesized Al2O3–TiC nanocomposite

Al2O3–TiC nanocomposite was synthesized by ball milling of aluminum, titanium oxide and graphite powder mixtures. Effect of the milling time and heat treatment temperatures were investigated. The structural evolution of powder particles after different milling times was studied by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that after 40 h of ball milling the Al/TiO2/C reacted with a self-propagating combustion mode producing Al2O3–TiC nanocomposite. In final stage of milling, alumina and titanium carbide crystallite sizes were less than 10 nm. After annealing at 900 °C for 1 h, Al2O3 and TiC crystallite sizes remained constant, however increasing annealing temperature to 1200 °C increased Al2O3 and TiC crystallite size to 65 and 30 nm, respectively. No phase change was observed after annealing of the synthesized Al2O3–TiC powder.